FOLLOWING an announcement from Health Minister Ryan Park, NSW has become the first Australian jurisdiction to authorise the extended supply of oral contraceptives by pharmacists under the NSW Pharmacy Trial.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia NSW President Luke Kelly welcomed the start of the program, saying, "pharmacists participating in the trial will be able to continue the supply of an existing low-risk contraceptive without renewed prescription, better supporting contraceptive adherence as well as saving patients time and money".
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia commented that the reform will mean women have easier access to everyday healthcare, and free up doctors' appointments for more complicated matters, with changes in effect from 27 Sep.
"With over 2,000 community pharmacies in NSW, this policy makes it easier for women to access everyday reproductive healthcare," said Catherine Bronger, NSW Guild Senior Vice President.
"Many women are forced to wait weeks to see a doctor to renew their prescription for the pill.
"In regional areas, women often have to drive to the next town to even find a GP," Bronger added.
"This is about making it that little bit easier for women to access everyday reproductive healthcare."
However, doctors are staunchly against the expansion of pharmacist-led prescribing (PD 27 Sep), with the peak GP lobby group, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' VP and Qld Chair, Dr Bruce Willet, stating, "this creates a strong conflict of interest, where pharmacist prescribers will write out scripts for various conditions, and then sell medications to patients based on their recommendations".
"There is a reason why we have always separated the prescribing and dispensing of medications," Willet concluded. JG
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